West Boylston zoning board wiped clean

The lone holdout on the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals, Chairman Philippe W. Chevalier, has resigned, allowing the Board of Selectmen to appoint new members to a group it called “dysfunctional.”

Mr. Chevalier’s resignation, submitted Tuesday, completes a request last month by selectmen that all members resign. Selectmen appoint the zoning appeals board’s members, and wanted to resolve issues with the board’s operations and internal disputes by starting fresh.

Kevin M. McCormick, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, said at a meeting last month he had “serious concerns about how (the zoning board) functions as a board.”

Selectman John O’Brien said: “We have to blow it up and start over.”

The selectmen canceled a planned Nov. 14 hearing “for the purpose of hearing charges against a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals and to determine whether cause exists to remove the individual from the office.”

The selectmen intend to interview potential appointees, including former zoning board members who may wish to be reappointed.

Zoning board members Linda Isgro, Barbara Deschenes and Charles Witkis had previously submitted their resignations as of Nov. 9 as requested. Member Stephen Hart had resigned earlier.

“I am very disappointed with the Board of Selectmen, and your decision to disband the current Zoning Board of Appeals to cure a problem that clearly does not involve most members of the board,” Mr. Chevalier said in his resignation letter.

He had earlier refused to resign, intending to fight for his position on the board “and for the return of the integrity and the good reputation that the zoning board once had. I no longer feel that this fight would be productive, or in the best interest of the town.”

His resignation is effective today, similar to those of other members of the board. The date reflects selectmen’s goal of keeping a functioning ZBA in place for town business, including a previously scheduled hearing, until a new board is appointed.